Tips for Preventing Birth Defects

Women who have never had rubella, German measles, and those who have not been vaccinated against this disease are advised to be vaccinated and wait at least one month before becoming pregnant. The rubella vaccine should not be given during pregnancy. Exposure to rubella during pregnancy can cause deafness, mental retardation, congenital heart defects and blindness in the unborn child. Developing toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by a parasite, during pregnancy, can cause birth defects including hearing loss, vision problems and mental retardation. The disease is caused by parasites that live in soil. Infection results from eating raw or undercooked meat and unwashed vegetables. Contact with animal feces, especially cat feces, is another source of contamination. Pregnant women are urged to eat well-cooked meat, wear gloves while gardening and handling unwashed vegetables, and have someone else empty the litter box.